Ascending. The Source of Success. Climb the Sacred Mountain.
Use this to see the Great People. Have no cares.
Wise Words! Chastising in the South opens the Way.
Rise to a higher level through your own efforts. Wiggle your way out of old entanglements. Gather the small to achieve the great. Beware of timidity, laziness and complacence. Focus on consistent hard work, good communications, positive energy and pacing.
The Image
The old character shows a small measure for alcohol poured out in sacrifice and a head filled with spirit, the illumination that results.
Circle of Meanings
Ascend to a higher level, take things up into the heart; have no cares, rid yourself of pain and sorrow; make the effort, fulfill the potential step by step; advance, be promoted, rise in office; intervene at a crucial moment. Inner self-cultivation now brings you a deep faith in the overall processes of life. Heart Theme: 54 radical change of state brought by forces beyond your control.
Spirit Helpers
Wood below Earth. Eldest Daughter and Mother, the Matchmaker and the Midwife, are bringing inner penetration that supports the outer field of action. Rise to a higher level and you can become truly effective. Set a goal and work towards it step by step. Root yourself and push towards the heights. Fulfill the hidden potential. Correct, discipline and put things in order. See those who can help and advise you. Set off on your way and have no cares. This is a time to move upwards through your own efforts. Put your purpose in order. You are undoubtedly on the Way. Set out toward the south, region of summer, growth intensity and action. You can rise now through inner adaptability. Things will not simply come to you. Amass small things to achieve the great. Your purpose is indeed on the move.
Voice of the Mothers
Rid yourself of pain and sorrow and ascend to a higher level. Set a goal and work towards it. Make the effort. Inner self-cultivation now brings you a deep faith in the overall processes of life. This is a time to bring your inner and outer lives together (61). Do not focus on help from those above you (19).
Sheng, ascending shows a procession up the Sacred Mountain, specifically a journey through the old Zhou capital, the empty city, up to the Twin-Peaked Mountain that was the ancestral home of the Zhou ancestors. This was the King’s temple where the spirit tablets of the Royal Ancestors were housed. A journey up this mountain means becoming part of the founders, one with the Great People. It alludes to the story of a timely intervention by Confucius, who “ascended the three steps” of the ritual platform to save his lord from being killed through treachery at a treaty negotiation. His precise knowledge of the ritual and his moral integrity allowed him to make the crucial intervention. Behind this is a very old tradition of the Wu or Spirit-Intermediaries ascending to the mountain shrine of the Tiger spirit hidden just below the summit to receive the destinies of noble souls and open the fields for the people. The term means to rise up like the sun, to climb the steps and present an offering. It is a series of high divinations that goes on through the night. In meditation, this is the rising of energy from the base of the trunk to the heart center that connects above and below. It is setting out to subdue the Demon Country, freed from care, melancholy and compulsive desire. The root of the term means complete and shows a small measure, a libation cup full of spirit.
Winter (46): Find the seed of the new by relying on your own inner strength. Express yourself freely. Put things in order. Find the people you truly belong with. Cooperate with the process.
Spring (11): Rouse new growth by disentangling yourself from past influences. Do not try to force things. Find the people you really belong with. Everything will turn out for the best.
Summer (26): Ripen the fruits by changing your basic approach. Don’t do what you’ve always done. Check your integrity and get back on track. Trust your instincts and the treasure is yours.
Fall (18): Harvest the crop by restoring ideals. Abandon the past. Seek the lessons in your experiences. Trust your instincts.
Voice of the Fathers
This is a Realizing Figure, part of the Sacred Sickness Pathway that connects personal disorders with cultural change. It is an experience of the Centers of Power in the stage of the Symbolic Life that confers higher levels of empowerment in culture and a new ritual status on the fully individualized being.
The Situation: A time of growth and achievement through individual effort that raises the energy level of the whole family.
Caring for Others: Step up the pace of activities. There is a high correlation of energy to positive outcomes and no obstacles in sight. You will gain support as projects are completed and your wisdom will be seen and appreciated. Direct your mind to fulfilling goals and dreams, and work hard.
Setting Intentions: Past effort will pay off well now. Shift your plans accordingly and take a more imaginative approach to ongoing projects and new plans. You will find support. Maintain your pace and rhythm and your base of support.
Communication and Interaction: Be active. Make suggestions. Response from others is superb. The time favors you. Show what you can do.
Change from the Inside Out: Your creative judgment is excellent. Use it. Consistent application will bring great rewards. New endeavors are very auspicious. Seek support and expect positive results. Make sure you get what you need in negotiations. Expand the scope of shared efforts.
- Immediate Future: step outside of what you normally do.
- Personal Development: see your loneliness as a gift of the spirit.
- Working within the Family: carefully help people see what they are meant to be.
- Expanding the Circle: step up the pace. Be active and imaginative.
- Partnership: Share what is important. Achieve shared goals step by step.
Pairing: Bringing Change to Life
Each hexagram is part of a Pair that that activates hidden paths of transformative energy through the interaction of the trigrams or Spirit Helpers, connecting phases of Inspiration and Realization. You are in the Realizing phase of this Pair.
The transformative process of the Pair 45:46 Gathering and Ascending develops the strength to gather inner resources and the drive to take things to a higher spiritual level.
Outer to Inner: The process transforms the Mediator trigram in the outer world of 45 into the Matchmaker trigram in the inner world of 46. This turns your need to express yourself in public into inner self cultivation.
Inner to Outer: This interiorisation shifts the Midwife trigram from the inner world of 45 to the outer world of 46. It turns your inner devotion to following a path into a deep faith in the overall processes of life.
Transforming Lines
Mothering Change presents Transforming Lines as Steps of Change that show you where and how to focus your energy. Click on the links to connect with the Relating Figure generated by each line.
Inner World
Sincere Ascending. Wise Words! The Great Way opens.
You have been recognized. People have become aware of your value. Expressing your feelings now is not a mistake. The obstruction is toppling and you will soon have cause to rejoice. It is time to get this great endeavor off the ground. Put things in order. Find people of worth you really belong with. If you let yourself be led you can realize hidden potential. Co-operate with the ongoing process of change. (11 Pervading)
There is a connection to the spirits that will carry you through.
Advantageous to make the summer sacrifice. This is not a mistake.
The connection is established. Dedicate yourself to what you believe in. You have a position in this gathering, a long-term source of energy and inspiration. Provide for this even if you feel afflicted or oppressed. Your efforts will call out to others. These goings and comings release the energy now bound up in the past. Co-operate with the ongoing process of change. (15 Humbling)
Ascending through the empty city on the lower hill.
There is no resistance to your efforts. Push on. You may feel outside your present group but you are in this position because of your real moral and intellectual worth. Let go of old memories, useless ideas and false images. Come out of mourning and set your forces in order. Something significant is returning. Be open and provide what is needed. (7 Legions)
Outer World
The King sacrifices and receives blessing on the Twin-peaked Mountain.
Wise Words! The Way is open. This is not a mistake.
Dedicate your efforts to the common good. Every time you tried to gather together with others a flood of painful memories swamped you. Hold onto your compulsive desire to follow or to collect followers now. Be resolute and part from the past. It will connect you with a creative force. (32 Persevering)
Ascend the steps. Wise Words! Trial: the Way is open.
Proceed step by step. There are no barriers to your progress. Though you ostensibly have all you need you feel cut off and oppressed by lack of recognition. Extend the gathering, include more. Return to the common source of value and feeling. Be resolute now and part from the past. You are connected to a creative force. (48 The Well)
Ascending in a waning moon. Dim light. There will be changes.
Advantageous not to pause in making the Trials.
Do not stop now. Pushing on will bring both profit and insight in the end. You are connected to a deep source of energy but the link with others is still unclear. Leave your current position and mingle with the people. Simply reach out and the tension will dissolve into laughter and joy. Do not involve yourself with corrupt authority. Serve the highest ideals. Let yourself be led and you can realize hidden potential. Co-operate with the ongoing process of change. (18 Corruption/Renovating)